2006
HUMMER
H3

Base Utility

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Review

2006
HUMMER
H3 Review

Urbanized interior with its off-roading heritage under the hood

Reviewed by Automotive on
6/26/2006

Overview

The 2006 Hummer H3 is a civilian variation of the United States military vehicle. It is a milder, more approachable version of the H1 and H2 versions. It is a midsize, five-passenger sport utility vehicle (SUV) that is built upon the Chevrolet Colorado pickup form and tries to combine the fun of off-road traversing with urban comfort. The result is a Hummer with a smaller engine, shorter body, and a smoother ride.

Unfortunately for Hummer, the H3 model hit the market during a time when skyrocketing fuel prices caused a lot of people to shy away from gas-guzzling machines. Hummer designers took the Chevy Colorado pickup form and made the body wider. They incorporated the same 3.5-liter five-cylinder engine as the Colorado and made the H3 lighter and more fuel-efficient than the H1 and H2. They also softened the interior by using quality materials and improving the layout of the controls and gauges.

The Range

What's New

The 2006 Hummer H3 does not receive any updates in 2006.

Exterior

The 2006 Hummer H3 is only available as a base model with a few packages. Standard equipment includes 32-inch all-terrain tires, skid plates, and mirrors and locks. The optional Off-Road Suspension Package adds a shorter-geared transfer case for better hill ascending and descending, a locking rear differential, 33-inch off-road tires, and firmer suspension tuning. Other options include a tow hitch, sunroof, and a chrome appearance package.

2006 The H3 is smaller than other models, but still bares distinctive Hummer features that make it stand out amongst the crowd even without the Hummer logo and name stamped on it.

Interior

Standard features for the 2006 Hummer H3 include dual-zone air-conditioning, cruise control, alloy trim on center console, alloy trim on the dashboard, a leather steering wheel, and an eight-speaker six CD audio system. The Luxury Package adds leather upholstery, a leather-wrapped steering wheel, power-adjustable heated front seats, and an MP3-compatible stereo with Monsoon speakers. Other extras include a satellite radio with Monsoon speakers and an in-dash CD changer.

The materials used on the interior are of good quality and the seats are supportive and comfortable. Shorter individuals may have a problem with visibility due to the high cowl and short glass area. Average-sized adults can enjoy adequate legroom in the front seats, but it is a bit cramped in the second row. The dashboard controls and gauges are more conventional, well-placed, and easy to read and reach. The knobs are large but not awkward. The center stack has a simple design with an intuitive layout. The steering wheel feels substantial and solid in the driver's hands.

Performance & Handling

The 2006 Hummer H3 has a 3.5-liter, inline-five cylinder engine that gets 220 horsepower at 225 lb-ft of torque. The five-speed manual transmission is standard, and the four-speed automatic is optional. It has a towing capacity of 4500 pounds, and the automatic transmission moves this heavy car from zero to 60 mph in 9.3 seconds.

The true purpose of the 2006 Hummer H3 becomes clearly evident in off-road driving. It can traverse over some of the roughest terrain due to the four-wheel drive, short and long front independent suspension, and solid live axle leaf-spring rear suspension. When driving in an urban environment, the H3 has good acceleration and handling. The optional stability control keeps it stable during turns and the ride is smooth and comfortable. The 3.5-liter engine seems to be underpowered, especially when merging into traffic or passing cars on the highway.

Fuel economy for the 2006 Hummer H3 is less than stellar, getting only 14/18 mpg city/highway when equipped with the five-speed manual transmission. It is, however, more fuel efficient than the H1 and H2, which only get single-digit results.

Safety

Standard safety equipment for the 2006 Hummer H3 includes anti-lock brakes and a tire pressure monitoring system. Stability control and curtain side airbags are optional. There are no airbags available and no government crash testing has been done.